GPD: Pedestrian, police, vehicles scattered during chase

Staff report

Published: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 7:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 7:34 p.m.

Lenardo Terrelle Davis apologized to police after he led them on a chase Saturday night during which he hit speeds topping 115 mph and nearly hit a pedestrian, police and other vehicles, according to a report.

Davis, 25, of Gainesville, also ran numerous stoplights and signs and forced several vehicles off the road, the Gainesville Police Department report noted.

Davis, whose driver’s license has been suspended 11 times, is on probation for aggravated battery on a pregnant woman. He also had active warrants for driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest.

The police gave this account:

Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Davis was heading north in the 400 block of NE 15th Street, doing 50 mph in a 30 mph zone in his mother’s Buick Century. Officer Jeremiah Kelly saw him run a stop sign at NE 8th Avenue and swerve at a man who was walking a bicycle in the crosswalk.

Davis turned east on NE Eighth Avenue then south on NE 18th Street and turned into the Gardenia Gardens parking lot as Officer Cory Martin approached head on.

Martin got out of his cruiser and approached Davis, who sped at the officer, forcing Martin to jump back into his car.

Davis eventually raced out of town, avoiding stop sticks dropped by both GPD officers and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The chase went on for 25 minutes, during which Davis forced several vehicles off the road, sped through stop signs and traffic lights, bounced off curbs and drove on the wrong side of the road.

The Buick finally died just west of Lacrosse. As it was rolling to a stop, passenger Tyus Bridges of Hawthorne jumped from the car and was apprehended. He told police Davis told him he fled because he almost hit the man in the crosswalk and because he has a suspended license.

Davis apologized to police for his actions, saying he knew he would be going to prison for any violation of his probation, even a technical one.

He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing arrest, and driving with a suspended license. He was being held at the Alachua County jail on Sunday.

<p>Lenardo Terrelle Davis apologized to police after he led them on a chase Saturday night during which he hit speeds topping 115 mph and nearly hit a pedestrian, police and other vehicles, according to a report.</p><p>Davis, 25, of Gainesville, also ran numerous stoplights and signs and forced several vehicles off the road, the Gainesville Police Department report noted.</p><p>Davis, whose driver's license has been suspended 11 times, is on probation for aggravated battery on a pregnant woman. He also had active warrants for driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest.</p><p>The police gave this account:</p><p>Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Davis was heading north in the 400 block of NE 15th Street, doing 50 mph in a 30 mph zone in his mother's Buick Century. Officer Jeremiah Kelly saw him run a stop sign at NE 8th Avenue and swerve at a man who was walking a bicycle in the crosswalk.</p><p>Davis turned east on NE Eighth Avenue then south on NE 18th Street and turned into the Gardenia Gardens parking lot as Officer Cory Martin approached head on.</p><p>Martin got out of his cruiser and approached Davis, who sped at the officer, forcing Martin to jump back into his car.</p><p>Davis eventually raced out of town, avoiding stop sticks dropped by both GPD officers and Alachua County Sheriff's Office deputies.</p><p>The chase went on for 25 minutes, during which Davis forced several vehicles off the road, sped through stop signs and traffic lights, bounced off curbs and drove on the wrong side of the road.</p><p>The Buick finally died just west of Lacrosse. As it was rolling to a stop, passenger Tyus Bridges of Hawthorne jumped from the car and was apprehended. He told police Davis told him he fled because he almost hit the man in the crosswalk and because he has a suspended license.</p><p>Davis apologized to police for his actions, saying he knew he would be going to prison for any violation of his probation, even a technical one.</p><p>He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing arrest, and driving with a suspended license. He was being held at the Alachua County jail on Sunday.</p>